Did I just get scammed for 400$ ?

[gambit]

So today I was coming home, it was raining a little bit so roads were bit slippery, At an exit I gave the indicator and a car from behind hit back of my car, and my car spin 3 times before going off road to grass, because of rain the Grass with water (I think) save me and my car from flipping over, I came out side quickly to check on other drive to make sure they are ok, a cop showed up and he ask us if we both are ok and need any medical attention, I was just panic and shocked and processing the situation cause this is the first time I was dealing with a accident and Cop, Cop asked us both to get our Registration and license, I get it but cop ask us if we don't want to file a report than we can go through insurance or settle it among us, he help push my car out of grass and he was on his way. The Guy and I was talking about and he said if I pay him cash than there is no need for insurance companies to get involved, he told me that would take my insurance go up and I had a 500 deductible which I would have to pay anyway, so he asked for money and I ended up giving him 400$ through cash app, my car was not damage just Rubbed off, his fender was damage and bumper was damage to and Rubbed as well. When I get home my room mates told me that I should not have done that, he did took Pics of my License and registration but upon transaction he did delete and he went on his way, now after talking to my friends they told me that I should've filed the report and he probably did not have insurance.

What I don't understand that I told cop that I am new here and this is first time dealing with this kind of situation and yet Cop did not seems to be helpful, he just bailout super quick. Now my friends told me that, guy can still file a claim from Insurance although there was no police report done so Is it possible ? they also told me he can try recover picture from deleted Pics but if there is no report can he do that ? I hope he do not do anything because I paid him because I thought it's easier and more reliable way as even the cop suggested that before he left.

Did I make a Mistake ?
What can I do better next time ?
If the guy try to do anything else what else I can do ?


@gambit @F-22Raptor @Hamartia Antidote @SQ8 @KAL-EL @JamD

1. The police responding to an accident does have discretion on whether to record the accident or not. However, if either party insist on filing a report, then the officer must do a write-up. If medical service is required, that would be a mandatory write-up.

2. Once the police is removed from the picture, no matter how. Then it is between the parties involved in the accident.

2a. Many insurance companies will pay out if the claim damage is small enough and in this case $500 maybe that threshold even if there is no police report of the accident.​

​

2b. The Other Guy could have taken your money and make the insurance claim anyway.​

​

2c. Because there is no police report, the Other Guy could claim you caused the accident.​

​

2d. It was a bad idea to let him took pics of your driver's license and vehicle registration. There is no telling that he truly deleted the info. Now some of your personal info is vulnerable for exploitation.​

​

3. You should have insisted on a police report. That is pretty much the final 3rd party witness protection for everyone. Most insurance companies are not interested in who was at fault. They know that accidents do happens even if everyone are perfect drivers. A police report protects everyone's innocence, assuming so. The police is supposed to 'serve' the people's interests, so too bad if they have to write-up accident reports. Let the insurance companies (yours and his) work out the details. There was no need for the Other Guy to know personal information via pics of y our driver's license. If fault is needed, let the insurance companies (yours and his) work out who was at fault.

In my personal history, I hit two deers, not humans. Both times, the police did the write-up without asking me. Partly because the officers had to hunt down the wounded deers and kill them, meaning their weapon discharge must be recorded.

 

[Goritoes]

1. The police responding to an accident does have discretion on whether to record the accident or not. However, if either party insist on filing a report, then the officer must do a write-up. If medical service is required, that would be a mandatory write-up.

2. Once the police is removed from the picture, no matter how. Then it is between the parties involved in the accident.

2a. Many insurance companies will pay out if the claim damage is small enough and in this case $500 maybe that threshold even if there is no police report of the accident.​

​

2b. The Other Guy could have taken your money and make the insurance claim anyway.​

​

2c. Because there is no police report, the Other Guy could claim you caused the accident.​

​

2d. It was a bad idea to let him took pics of your driver's license and vehicle registration. There is no telling that he truly deleted the info. Now some of your personal info is vulnerable for exploitation.​

​

3. You should have insisted on a police report. That is pretty much the final 3rd party witness protection for everyone. Most insurance companies are not interested in who was at fault. They know that accidents do happens even if everyone are perfect drivers. A police report protects everyone's innocence, assuming so. The police is supposed to 'serve' the people's interests, so too bad if they have to write-up accident reports. Let the insurance companies (yours and his) work out the details. There was no need for the Other Guy to know personal information via pics of y our driver's license. If fault is needed, let the insurance companies (yours and his) work out who was at fault.

In my personal history, I hit two deers, not humans. Both times, the police did the write-up without asking me. Partly because the officers had to hunt down the wounded deers and kill them, meaning their weapon discharge must be recorded.

Well Now that he is on his way with 400$, but there is no police report. Is there anything I can or he can do ?

 

[Goritoes]

You sound scared and lost, thats okay.

Yep I was, my car just spin three times, I am still unsure why it wasn't flip over. I thought this was it I would be dead or at least in Hospital for many days. Last, this was my first experience so I made those blunders, I just wanted to be over since the cop bailout. If he stayed a bit longer explain things to me I would probably catch myself and pull it together, everything happened so fast.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Well Now that he is on his way with 400$, but there is no police report. Is there anything I can or he can do ?

You don’t have any of his info, so what can you do?

You could have reported it to your insurance company and possibly got your money back if you had his info, but like you said you panicked.

You should seriously invest in a dash cam for your car as that is the only thing that can help you even if somehow the cops were against you.

Just listen to this bharti song, learn your lesson and move on:

Yep I was, my car just spin three times, I am still unsure why it wasn't flip over. I thought this was it I would be dead or at least in Hospital for many days. Last, this was my first experience so I made those blunders, I just wanted to be over since the cop bailout. If he stayed a bit longer explain things to me I would probably catch myself and pull it together, everything happened so fast.

Because of the water between your tires and the road you hydroplaned. If it was dry and there was friction you probably would have flipped over.

 

[Goritoes]

You don’t have any of his info, so what can you do?

You could have reported it to your insurance company and possibly got your money back if you had his info, but like you said you panicked.

You should seriously nicest in a dash cam for your car as that is the only thing that can help you even if somehow the cops were against you.

Just listen to this bharti song, learn your lesson and move on:

Because of the water between your tires and the road you hydroplaned. If it was dry and there was friction you probably would have flipped over.

I was planning to get Dash cam, but somehow it get delayed and delayed. I think the reason why I did everything was because I did not get time to think straight mind, i was shocked and scared , feeling a lot of emotions and on top of that I was dealing with that fact cop left, and this man could make anything up. Now I could things up but I am not a good liar TBH.

I can relate, you were scammed not because of your fault, but you were vulnerable, ignore 400$, little price to pay for a life lesson.
I am sure this will make you stronger bro, cheers!

I am not worried about the money, its gone. I just hope he don't do anything else, and this matter is finish right here.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Incorrect, not trying to pick up an argument but don't misdirect a new guy.
For details read up your insurance details.

And please then apologize for calling a guy requesting help stupid.

How is it incorrect? The said incident occurred in Florida.

 

[Goritoes]

My opinion worth whatever would be it's over, dont worry, if anything escalates please call your insurance and let them handle it, they are the experts, and since you pay them they are your agents.

As long as its over I don't mind, I am not sad about money as it can be replaced. If car flipped at speed of 60-70 mph that would be bad, and even though I was pressing the break as hard as I can, my Car stopped literally couple of inches from a Tree, if it hit the tree the front would have been gone as well .

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Interesting, not sure what state you at but deer hits aren't a police responsibility in DC area.


My opinion worth whatever would be it's over, dont worry, if anything escalates please call your insurance and let them handle it, they are the experts, and since you pay them they are your agents.
If i can ask, whats your insurance agency?


Looked it up for Florida, you are still incorrect.

The only way OP will get any money is if the other guy reports to his insurance because Florida is a no fault state.

 

[Goritoes]

How is it incorrect? The said incident occurred in Florida.

I've been told that as well, if someone hits you from Behind than its their fault in 98% of the cases.

 

[gambit]

Well Now that he is on his way with 400$, but there is no police report. Is there anything I can or he can do ?

You can try to file a police report but after the fact? Not likely the police will do anything. The only thing you can do now is hope the Other Guy is an honest man.

Insurance policies have deductibles to discourage frivolous claims. If the damages to the car is less than the deductible, then it is better if you take care of the damage on your own. Most police dept have direct access to an insurance companies database to tell them if a driver is insured or not. If the involved parties chose not file a police report, then there is no need to call that database.

Do you remember if the police officer went back to his car and called in for insurance info?

If the Other Guy was eager to settle quickly, it maybe because he did not have insurance, which would make him in violation of the law.

 

[jhungary]

So today I was coming home, it was raining a little bit so roads were bit slippery, At an exit I gave the indicator and a car from behind hit back of my car, and my car spin 3 times before going off road to grass, because of rain the Grass with water (I think) save me and my car from flipping over, I came out side quickly to check on other drive to make sure they are ok, a cop showed up and he ask us if we both are ok and need any medical attention, I was just panic and shocked and processing the situation cause this is the first time I was dealing with a accident and Cop, Cop asked us both to get our Registration and license, I get it but cop ask us if we don't want to file a report than we can go through insurance or settle it among us, he help push my car out of grass and he was on his way. The Guy and I was talking about and he said if I pay him cash than there is no need for insurance companies to get involved, he told me that would take my insurance go up and I had a 500 deductible which I would have to pay anyway, so he asked for money and I ended up giving him 400$ through cash app, my car was not damage just Rubbed off, his fender was damage and bumper was damage to and Rubbed as well. When I get home my room mates told me that I should not have done that, he did took Pics of my License and registration but upon transaction he did delete and he went on his way, now after talking to my friends they told me that I should've filed the report and he probably did not have insurance.

What I don't understand that I told cop that I am new here and this is first time dealing with this kind of situation and yet Cop did not seems to be helpful, he just bailout super quick. Now my friends told me that, guy can still file a claim from Insurance although there was no police report done so Is it possible ? they also told me he can try recover picture from deleted Pics but if there is no report can he do that ? I hope he do not do anything because I paid him because I thought it's easier and more reliable way as even the cop suggested that before he left.

Did I make a Mistake ?
What can I do better next time ?
If the guy try to do anything else what else I can do ?


@gambit @F-22Raptor @Hamartia Antidote @SQ8 @KAL-EL @JamD

As a cop of 11 years, I willtell you what I think. But first, I have a few question to ask you.

1.) When you put on your blinker, did you merge or you stayed in your lane?
2.) How far away is the other car, or did you check your mirror if you have merged.
3.) What is the traffic condition (You mentioned weather but not traffic condition)
4.) Do any witness stop and record a statement?

Without the answer to the 4 question, I can't tell you if you are at fault or he is (Which mean if you got scammed or not) In most US Highway, you are required to give way to a car behind you on the lane you merge into, which mean if you put the blinker on and he is close by and you didnt see it, it's your fault.

However, that largely depends on whether or not if there are witness on the incident and how fast you are really going, if the traffic is congested, you would drive slow, so you can argue that he should be able to see you. If he can stop and he didn't, it's as much his fault than yours. But if witness is absent, then what we cop called "Default" scenario would be put in play. Which mean if you merged, he hit you, it's your fault.

What can you do better next time? Do you mean driving or how to deal with this situation? If you mean Driving, I can't help you, as I am a lousy driver myself (I totalled like 7 cars in 24 years of my driving history lol. But if you mean what can you do next time. First I will go to your local PD and ask for a call out log. If cop was call (He wasn't just pull up on the incident) then there should be a call out log, then you can pop down to your local PD, and report a MTA (Motor Traffic Accident) and get a case number (or file number or whatever your local PD call) and then just file the claim with your insurance just in case.

If the person uses your personal detail other than settle the claim, that's illegal, if you think he is doing that or is going to do that, go to the court and ask for a temporary restraining order. If he still doing it, then he will be arrested and have to go to court. Otherwise there are nothing you can do, this is not a fraud case or anything criminal, because you are willingly provide the money to the other party, the cop can't do shit to recover the money you pay him.

Hope it helps.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

I've been told that as well, if someone hits you from Behind than its their fault in 98% of the cases.

It’s a driver’s responsibility to not follow the car ahead of them too closely.

Trust me, it was the other guy’s fault.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

That's the only thing that matters, don't be shaken by little things in life bro, be strong and a good guy.
Happiness follows! Cheers!


Sorry if I couldn't make myself clear, hitting from behind is not always the rear guys fault, thats all!
Cheers!

You didn’t hear about the case of the truck driver in California whose brakes failed and he ended up killing a handful of people? The court still sentenced him to life in prison. Hopefully they overturned it.


Anyways my point is that as a driver it’s your responsibility to keep a reasonable distance from the car that is in front of you. In 99% of cases of rear end collisions, it’s the person that hits the other car from the back that is at fault.

 

[jhungary]

It’s a driver’s responsibility to not follow the car ahead of them too closely.

Trust me, it was the other guy’s fault.

If he is changing lane or merging, then it's his fault, Federal Highway code said you need approximately 30 ft (or 50 I forgot) of gap between car before your merge, either he is not at that distant or the other guy sped right up, otherwise if he keep that rules, there will not be an accident.

Haha bro, but you are taking the wrong approach getting into techicalities this guy doesn't need, no disrespect but it's a common cops fault, don't need a lesson on the law, more so understanding.
Unfortunately missing in cops in USA, way better experience in Europe personally

I think he asked whether it is his fault?? Didn't he?

I am just stating my opinion as a Police Officer.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

If he is changing lane or merging, then it's his fault, Federal Highway code said you need approximately 30 ft (or 50 I forgot) of gap between car before your merge, either he is not at that distant or the other guy sped right up, otherwise if he keep that rules, there will not be an accident.


I think he asked whether it is his fault?? Didn't he?

I am just stating my opinion as a Police Officer.

I doubt there was more than one lane on the exit ramp...